Black and his daughter to a place
of safety. You know that is what we really came for."

"Fine!" was the corporal's reply.

Mr. Black and Adrian protested, but they were overruled.

"It's a good idea," said the oldest of the troopers, "and now to
run for it."

It was fully five minutes after the others had left that Billie
and Brooks saw the Mexican infantry, some fifty in number, emerge
from the town and come slowly toward them.

Looking across the valley, they could perceive that the little
band under the direction of Mr. Black was nearing the protection
of the forest that covered the next hillside.

"Two minutes more and they will be safe," said Billie.

"Then we'll give them the two minutes," replied the corporal.
"Cut loose at the bunch as soon as it is near enough."

A moment later two rifles spoke out and then they turned loose
their automatics, to give the impression of a much larger force.

Two men fell and a minute later two more, as the boys'
Winchesters again spoke.

"Now for the horses!" cried Billie as the Mexicans threw
themselves upon the ground.

They sprang to their horses and dashed away down the valley.

They were not discovered until they had cleared the shelter of
the trees and then a volley was fired after them. The bullets
sang all around them, but they escaped unhurt, and before another
volley they were out of range.

"It's a good thing for us that they have no cavalry," said Brooks
as they sped along.

"Sure is," was the response, "and I hope they don't succeed in
getting word ahead of us."

"We'll fix that," said Brooks. "We cross the railroad just at the
foot of the hill and I'll climb up and cut the telegraph wires."

"They may have sent word already."

"Hardly. They may have tried to, but it's dollars to doughnuts
that there was nobody at Joachin or Rio Blanco to receive it. The
nearest night operator, I imagine, is at Piedras Negras."

"They may send a force from there to head us off," suggested
Billie.

"That's so; but I'm not sure whether Piedras Negras is held by
the Carranza or the Huerta forces."

"It's a terrible mix-up, isn't it?" laughed Billie. "But I guess
either side would be glad to get us."

They had reached the tracks by this time and a couple of minutes
later Brooks was up a pole and with the aid of his bayonet broke
the wires.

"If it isn't too late, that'll hold 'em for a while," he remarked
as he descended from the pole and mounted his horse